The snow is making it's way to Mancos for the winter!
David B groomed the Bauer and Rush Loops early afternoon today!
Tomorrow (Tuesday), the plan is to re-groom everything. Hopefully we can roll the top of the road and Hamlin.
Lots of volunteer hours this week. The donation box is always open to help us fund grooming efforts.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Pretty Bird, Pretty Bird!
Fabulous. Spiritual. Ecstatic. The skiing experience at Chicken Creek yesterday (Saturday) is best summed up in those words. Despite very heavy usage, the day was a perfect one: crisp, cold, sunny and just generally amazing. Almost every person I spoke with (the ones I didn't know, anyway) traveled from Durango to ski here. Finally, we got the snow.
The lower loops are pretty tracked out but still good for skating, as the track is very firm thanks to the cold temps. Today should offer similar smile potential.
But first, a little scolding. Please, please, please do not bring your dogs on the upper loops. This means you. And to the person who tromped around the entire Rush Creek loop in size 15 boots: Really? Seriously? I suppose you are probably not reading this, just like you didn't read the signs forbidding walking on the groomed track. (heavy sigh) A little respect for the groomers work please, people.
John P and Peter B put in 8 hours of volunteer labor to make the skiing better, and that includes machine packing the Chicken Creek Road up to the turnaround, as well as packing down Hamlin Loop. Those two would be suitable for classic skiing now, skating will have to hold off for a little bit, until we get some more snow. We were hitting rocks on Hamlin, and the road was seriously rutted out by a late season driver before the gates were shut.
Best case scenario going forward offer the hope of about 3 more inches of snow followed by gradually warming temperatures toward the end of the week. Do your snow dances people!!
The lower loops are pretty tracked out but still good for skating, as the track is very firm thanks to the cold temps. Today should offer similar smile potential.
But first, a little scolding. Please, please, please do not bring your dogs on the upper loops. This means you. And to the person who tromped around the entire Rush Creek loop in size 15 boots: Really? Seriously? I suppose you are probably not reading this, just like you didn't read the signs forbidding walking on the groomed track. (heavy sigh) A little respect for the groomers work please, people.
John P and Peter B put in 8 hours of volunteer labor to make the skiing better, and that includes machine packing the Chicken Creek Road up to the turnaround, as well as packing down Hamlin Loop. Those two would be suitable for classic skiing now, skating will have to hold off for a little bit, until we get some more snow. We were hitting rocks on Hamlin, and the road was seriously rutted out by a late season driver before the gates were shut.
Best case scenario going forward offer the hope of about 3 more inches of snow followed by gradually warming temperatures toward the end of the week. Do your snow dances people!!
Friday, December 28, 2018
So pretty up there
John and Dave K got after it in a big way today, rolling the Bauer Loops as well as the Rush Loop, so we have some mileage available as of now. A big shout out two the two motorized heroes.
We are currently hatching plans to pack and roll additional terrain tomorrow (Saturday) so stay tuned. Please remember dogs are not allowed through the gate to the upper trails. The sign is currently not in place but we'll get one up there.
Conditions: Mostly good or better. It should firm up considerably tonight, and coverage was pretty much complete. Not quite enough snow to put in a classic track quite yet. If Monday's storm materializes or it dumps a bit overnight tonight (Friday) that might get us there.
John and Dave racked up machine hours and I racked up enough time to total 9 volunteer hours today.
We are currently hatching plans to pack and roll additional terrain tomorrow (Saturday) so stay tuned. Please remember dogs are not allowed through the gate to the upper trails. The sign is currently not in place but we'll get one up there.
Conditions: Mostly good or better. It should firm up considerably tonight, and coverage was pretty much complete. Not quite enough snow to put in a classic track quite yet. If Monday's storm materializes or it dumps a bit overnight tonight (Friday) that might get us there.
John and Dave racked up machine hours and I racked up enough time to total 9 volunteer hours today.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Some Snow to Pack! Yes!
By the time you read this Friday snow packing will have commenced at Chicken Creek Nordic ski area. With any luck at all.
A brief reconnaissance of the area 2 days ago looked better than expected; probably 95% coverage. Not fun to ski, but still - at least we have some base to work with. So if this storm pans out as expected we may have adequate snow to lay some corduroy over the next few days. In an all-volunteer army (one which hasn't seen any action for way too long) things don't happen instantly. Bear with us, because it looks like it's going to stay cold enough over the next several days to hang on to whatever snowfall we get.
Once grooming has commenced, please do not walk or snowshoe on the groomed track! We lose volunteers over stuff like that.
Thank you.
Diddling with and transporting machines has racked up 10 hours of volunteer time since last post.
A brief reconnaissance of the area 2 days ago looked better than expected; probably 95% coverage. Not fun to ski, but still - at least we have some base to work with. So if this storm pans out as expected we may have adequate snow to lay some corduroy over the next few days. In an all-volunteer army (one which hasn't seen any action for way too long) things don't happen instantly. Bear with us, because it looks like it's going to stay cold enough over the next several days to hang on to whatever snowfall we get.
Once grooming has commenced, please do not walk or snowshoe on the groomed track! We lose volunteers over stuff like that.
Thank you.
Diddling with and transporting machines has racked up 10 hours of volunteer time since last post.
Friday, December 7, 2018
Rocky Progress
Just a quickie to let you all know we did quite a bit of work up at the area today. Mostly we worked to push down the snow and flatten things out. The Forest Service closed the gate on the Chicken Creek Road (FS 385) which is County Road 41.
That means we were able to get in and groom that road as well as Rush Creek Loop. Hamlin Loop has been machine packed but not groomed.
Honestly, the snow is pretty darn thin. We really need about another foot of snow to make things safe for you and your skis. The Bauer Loops are particularly skimpy, as always.
Looks like some walkers and snowshoers have been making tracks around stump lake. Great idea!
As some of you may know, the pen area where we store our equipment was broken into and vandalized this summer. Items which could not possibly be of any use to anyone else were taken, apparently to simply mess with us. We are in the process of replacing these parts and pieces. This takes money, of course. So please be generous at the donation box at the trailhead.
Peter, Phil and John put in a total of 13 hours labor today.
That means we were able to get in and groom that road as well as Rush Creek Loop. Hamlin Loop has been machine packed but not groomed.
Honestly, the snow is pretty darn thin. We really need about another foot of snow to make things safe for you and your skis. The Bauer Loops are particularly skimpy, as always.
Looks like some walkers and snowshoers have been making tracks around stump lake. Great idea!
As some of you may know, the pen area where we store our equipment was broken into and vandalized this summer. Items which could not possibly be of any use to anyone else were taken, apparently to simply mess with us. We are in the process of replacing these parts and pieces. This takes money, of course. So please be generous at the donation box at the trailhead.
Peter, Phil and John put in a total of 13 hours labor today.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Not quite yet
The snowfall at the ski area is not yet adequate for grooming. We did, however, run some machines around the loops to try to pack down what little we did receive in hopes the snow predicted for Thursday materializes.
Caution should be exercised!
We were hitting lots of rocks with the snow machines which means your skis will do likewise.
We've already had more snow than we got all last year, so maybe we're off to a good start.
Time will tell.
Stay tuned...
John, Peter and Joan put in a total of 16 hours work just getting to the point we could do some packing.
Caution should be exercised!
We were hitting lots of rocks with the snow machines which means your skis will do likewise.
We've already had more snow than we got all last year, so maybe we're off to a good start.
Time will tell.
Stay tuned...
John, Peter and Joan put in a total of 16 hours work just getting to the point we could do some packing.
Sunday, January 21, 2018
The Chicken Knows
Yes, the Chicken knows everyone is anxious to ski the fresh pow. Yes, the Chicken knows it's been an abysmal year for skiing. Yes, the Chicken knows that the community turned out in an awesome fashion to help purchase new grooming equipment.
BUT
As of this afternoon (Sunday) there was only about 5 inches of fresh snow at the base. This blogger went up to ski the snow and I did a little damage to my new skis. That's OK, since skis are meant to be used. It is only fair to let you all know, however, that conditions are less than stellar, and for at least two reasons there will be no grooming at this time.
First and foremost, there is simply not enough snow to groom; at least not at the base. I would estimate there is about 10+ inches at the top of the Rush Loop, which would be adequate. But getting there is problematic, at least in part because of problem number two.
Second problem: All the Forest Service gates within the ski area are closed and locked, which means the groomer cannot get around the track. Additionally, the Chicken Creek Road gate is still open, and of course someone drove up there through the snow, probably late last night as the tracks were pretty well snowed in.
To say the least this has been a frustrating year for Chicken Creek Nordic, and the forecast for this week does not offer the promise of any new snow. Additionally, with the Federal Government shutdown, who knows when we will be able to swing all the gates that need swung in order to make grooming a possibility.
Keep checking back on the blog, and I will do my best to keep everyone abreast of developments.
BUT
As of this afternoon (Sunday) there was only about 5 inches of fresh snow at the base. This blogger went up to ski the snow and I did a little damage to my new skis. That's OK, since skis are meant to be used. It is only fair to let you all know, however, that conditions are less than stellar, and for at least two reasons there will be no grooming at this time.
First and foremost, there is simply not enough snow to groom; at least not at the base. I would estimate there is about 10+ inches at the top of the Rush Loop, which would be adequate. But getting there is problematic, at least in part because of problem number two.
Second problem: All the Forest Service gates within the ski area are closed and locked, which means the groomer cannot get around the track. Additionally, the Chicken Creek Road gate is still open, and of course someone drove up there through the snow, probably late last night as the tracks were pretty well snowed in.
To say the least this has been a frustrating year for Chicken Creek Nordic, and the forecast for this week does not offer the promise of any new snow. Additionally, with the Federal Government shutdown, who knows when we will be able to swing all the gates that need swung in order to make grooming a possibility.
Keep checking back on the blog, and I will do my best to keep everyone abreast of developments.
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